Page 30 of A Spark Of Revenge

“I willingly gave up my crown. I have no kingdom left to rule over. You are the heir of Versipellis, and I’m the son of Orcus. You have my loyalty, but you do not own my free agency. As long as Meyer's words and actions do not threaten Versipellis or its people, I’m not required to tell you a word,” Valen murmurs, his voice holding that calming tone that soothes me, even when his words anger me. But dammit, he’s right. I have no power or even a good reason to demand for him to tell me what Meyer said. Only a burning rage and jealousy I feel when I see him stare softly at her. Or how she didn't flinch that last time he drew near her.

Creed laughs softly as he walks to my other side, leaning against the wall with us, and I note how fucking pathetic we all are. Three Princes of Hell. All of which hold more magic and skill than most Demons ever could dream of… are pining after a damn girl who currently hates us all while glaring at a door she put between us. Damn, we are pathetic, but I can’t bring myself to care. After thirty-six years, I finally found a woman who holds my attention for longer than a day, and I refuse to care how stupid I look sitting outside her door, waiting for her to give me a sliver of her attention.

“Nox has been his usual charming self bossing Lemon Drop around, calling her names, throwing her into a world she knows nothing about while refusing to help her,” Creed starts to list off, and I turn my head to the side, glaring at him as Valen tenses at my other side.

“Shut up,” I grind out. “If he doesn't want to share with us, then we don't have to share with him. And my name is Lennox, Valen. Or Nox if you’d rather. Only Mother can call me by my birth name, and it's only ever when I’m in trouble.”

“Lemon Drop?” Valen questions, shooting me a bemused look before tilting his head as if contemplating Creed's words. “I suppose she does have a soft citrus scent about her,” he muses.

“Yeah, plus her name is Meyer… like a Meyer Lemon. Plus, Meyer’s sweet, but she can be sour as fuck if you piss her off,” Creed grumbles, sulking a little as Valen nods.

“Yes, I'm becoming aware of that.” Soft footsteps coming down the hall catch my attention, and I look around Creed to see Elaine and her son, Ranger Drakos, walking our way, the latter glaring at us like he would like to stab us all with the kalis he has strapped at his hip.

“Boys,” Elaine greets, then frowns when she sees Valen. “Oh, a new face?” she says hesitantly.

“Hello,” Valen says, voice deep and unwavering as he dips his head in a small bow, only flicking his pale eyes to meet Elaine’s for a moment before resuming his stare down with the door in front of us. Sighing, I stand up and nod at Valen.

“Elaine, this is my brother, Valen,” I wave at him, then look to Valen and nod to Elaine. “This is Elaine. The woman who helped us take over the castle and who I’m hoping to leave in charge once we have things back in order.” Elaine laughs, the soft sound like a delicate bell drifting through the air.

“I’m afraid that will never happen,” she says with a grin, nodding to Valen, who still hasn't spared her another look. “But… your brother? The one you thought was being held somewhere in the castle?”

“Yes, though it turns out he was in the old church,” I growl, my anger turning at the mention of the old bastard who started all this bullshit.

“The church? No, that can't be right. I have been in there. There were only ever the humans they were using,” Elaine whispers in confusion.

“I was in a sarcophagus,” Valen rasps, making my head snap to look at him so fucking fast that my neck hurts. A sarcophagus? What the actual fuck?! They had him locked in a stone prison this entire time? Four fucking years locked in a damn stone box!

Elaine’s face pales as she stares at Valen, pity and sadness rolling off her in waves, causing me to pull back my magic so I don't feel her pain. I could manipulate it, lessen it so she didn't feel so much guilt. But once I mess with her emotions, I would have to ride out the emotion myself, taxing me even more, and at the moment, I’m attempting to control Meyer’s pain level since she didn't allow me to heal her completely before pulling away from me.

“I-I’m so sorry,” she whispers, her small hands clasped tight in front of her elegant ivory velvet dress.

“Whatever for?” Valen asks, his voice steady and calm, making me wish I had half the composure my brother does. How the hell is he okay right now? “Were you the one to lock me in there?” he asks simply, finally turning to Elaine, giving her a once over as she shakes her head. Valen nods and turns his attention to Ranger Drakos, who has remained silent at her side, glaring at us all.

“No, of course not,” Elaine whispers when Valen doesn't respond. “But I am sorry all the same. As a Hunter, what happened to you was unforgivable. I hope you will eventually forgive us.”

“There is nothing to forgive. The man who did this is dead, and the men who helped will soon meet the same fate,” Valen murmurs, eyes narrowing on Ranger Drakos as he shakes his head. “Wrong eye color,” he grumbles to himself, making the four other people in the hall give him quizzical looks. Valen glances up a moment before the sound of shouting and cursing meets my ears, an angry male voice rings down the cold hallways of the barracks as more footsteps draw closer. My eyes widen in surprise, then apprehension, when I see Razar stalking toward us, a young man's neck clasped in his hand as he glowers down at him.

“Shit!” Creed shouts, darting around Elaine to grab Ranger Drakos just as recognition flickers in his dark eyes. The boy's hand immediately goes to the kalis strapped to his side, and the swell of protectiveness and bone-deep fear sweeps over me as I watch the boy take in Razar and Ranger Jennings, and suddenly things start to make a little more sense.

Oh shit… how did I not see that before? No wonder Elaine's son is so pissed at us. We locked up the man he loves and chased after Meyer, whom I know he holds as a dear friend.

“Don’t,” Creed warns, arms encircling the smaller Hunter as Razar drags Ranger Jennings toward us. Elaine’s son struggles against Creed's arms, but he’s no match for my brother's strength, which is good since it looks like he’s about to murder us all in order to get to the man Razar is holding by the neck.

“Razar Regalis! You let that boy go immediately!” Elaine scolds side-eyeing Creed, silently warning him not to hurt her son before bunching up the fabric of her long dress in her fists as she spins on her heel to face the two men. Razar has Ranger Jennings by the scruff of the neck, and Ranger Jennings is doing everything he can to twist and turn out of Razar's grip, to no avail.

“Let him go!” Elaine’s son yells just as Creed slaps a hand over his mouth and then leans down, whispering something to the boy that makes him stop struggling a little. Ranger Jennings looks up when he hears his friend, his eyes widening when he sees Ranger Drakos being restrained by Creed, and he starts yelling, making me groan, rubbing at my head and the headache I’m trying to suppress. How did this become my life?

I watch through slitted eyes as Valen studies Ranger Jennings and then nods. “Razar, I need that boy, please,” he says softly. Despite the loud commotion, everyone stops yelling and turns toward Valen as he steps around me and moves closer to Razar.

“Like hell, fairy boy! Don't you dare touch him. And you,” Ranger Drakos snarls, pointing at Razar. “Let him go right now. I swear to God if you hurt him, I’ll—”

“Theodore Drakos, that is enough! Razar, please release Jordan, and let's all talk about this,” Elaine demands, her voice cracking out like a whip and impressing the hell out of me. I smile a little, glad that I’m not the one having to stop everyone this time. Elaine has an authority about her that cannot be denied, all while having a soft, nurturing side that I know is important to counteract the rough world the Hunters live in. She is my one and only choice at the moment to leave in charge once our presence is no longer necessary.

“No,” Razar growls out, dragging Jordan closer to Creed's door before shoving him against the wood. “You go in there and tell her she has ten minutes to release the small orange feline,” Razar says in a deep, gravelly voice, his fingers tightening on Jordan's neck as he speaks. Jordan's eyes fly wide in surprise, and he nods as he holds up his hands.

“Uh… yeah, sure! But only if Umbra Regalis lets Theo go,” Jordan demands. Creed immediately releases Theo, who tries to go to Jordan, but stops when Jordan shakes his head and glares at him. I watch in puzzled fascination. Why in the seven rings of hell would the boy want to save Elaine’s son but not forgive him? Humans are so weird.

Creed sighs and walks over to me, rolling his eyes and looking more than a little upset. “Why didn't I think of that? It would have gotten me massive bonus points if I had brought Ranger Jennings up here myself,” Creed grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest while sulking next to me.

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